United Airlines has announced an accelerated timeline to bring Starlink inflight connectivity into service. The airline now expects to begin testing Starlink in February, with the first commercial flight anticipated to take off this spring on a United Embraer E-175 aircraft.
United now plans to outfit its entire two-cabin regional fleet by the end of this year, and to have its first mainline Starlink-enabled aircraft in the air before the end of 2025. Ultimately, following United signing the industry’s largest agreement of its kind with SpaceX in September 2024, United will add Starlink services across its entire fleet.
Access to the Starlink-powered wi-fi service will be free for all United MileagePlus customers, on seatback screens and personal devices simultaneously, and will include IFE experiences such as streaming services, shopping, gaming and more. Membership to MileagePlus is also free, with sign-up available now at united.com/starlink.
“We have a lot planned for our MileagePlus members this year and adding Starlink to as many planes as we can – as quickly as we can – is at the centre of it all,” said Richard Nunn, CEO of United MileagePlus. “It’s not only going to revolutionise the experience of flying United, but it’s also going to unlock tons of new partnerships and benefits for our members that otherwise wouldn’t be possible.”
